Galaxy win, advance in CONCACAF Champions League

The Galaxy got everything they needed in a 3-0 victory over Cartaginés at Costa Rica’s Estadio Nacional on Wednesday night.

L.A. (3-0-0) came into the match needing a tie or win to secure a berth in next year’s CONCACAF Champions League knockout phase. Shutout wins over Cartaginés on Aug. 20 and El Salvador’s Isidro Metapán last week at StubHub Center put the Galaxy in prime position to win Group 8.

It’s the third consecutive year that the Galaxy have reached the quarterfinals of the CCL tournament.

The Galaxy, with a mostly reserve lineup, started quickly, getting a goal from Jack McBean, on a header, in the sixth minute. Chandler Hoffman scored his first pro goal in the 18th, and Laurent Courtois made it 3-0 scored in the 29th minute.

What made the victory even better was that L.A. did it without their stars.

Clinching now should give the Galaxy a big boost, allowing the club to rest key players such as Landon Donovan, Robbie Keane and Omar Gonzalez among others for their stretch run in MLS.